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Ephraim L. Davis
EPHRAIM L. DAVIS, Tionesta, was born in Conewango township, Warren Co.,
Penn., November 18, 1836, and is the youngest of the twelve children of
Greeley and Lucy (Dow) Davis. His mother was of English extraction, being the
daughter of Hon. John Dow, of Reading Centre, Steuben Co. (now Schuyler), N.W.
John Dow was the second settler at Watkins, the now famous Watkins Glen, at
the head of the beautiful Seneca Lake. He was a man of commanding appearance
and great natural ability, and was soon recognized as a leader. Among the many
public offices he held in his adopted county was member of the assembly, four
terms, sitting with the then young Martin Van Buren who afterward became
president of the United States; he was also judge of the county court eighteen
years, and held many other local positions of trust and responsibility. He was
a near relative of Lorenzo Dow, the once famous pioneer preacher. He died in
1847, at the advanced age of eighty-two years, being then the oldest Fremason
in the State of New York.
Lucy (Dow) Davis was born in Watkins, N.Y., October 10, 1792, and died in the
borough of Tionesta, Forest Co., Penn., in 1868. She was a woman of limited
education, but had a strong taste for reading and (which she imbibed from her
father), and was possessed of a wonderful memory and penetration. She soon
became known in the community in which she lived as a person of extensive
knowledge in history, literature and the politics of the day. It is said that
she had read every President’s message and State paper from George Washington
down to the time of her death. She was the mother of twelve children, all of
whom lived to become men and women and married.
Greeley Davis was of Welsh extraction, born August 4, 1787, in Saratoga
county, N.Y., and died at Pleasantville, Venango Co., Penn., June 15, 1863. He
was married to Lucy Dow, at Reading, N.Y., in 1811. During the war of 1812 he
enlisted in the American army, and for meritorious services received a land
warrant. Some years after his marriage he removed from the State of New York
to the wilds of Warren county, Penn., where L.H. Davis and Ephraim L. Davis
(the subject proper of this sketch) were born. Selling out his home there, he
removed to Pleasantville, where he lived on a farm until his death, which took
place when he was in his seventy-sixth year.
The boyhood and early youth of E. L. Davis were passed upon a farm with his
father and mother, the lad doing cheerfully the work incident to that calling,
with additional labor of sawing in a mill owned by his father. Located upon
the farm, his educational advantages were poor, schools being few and far
between. At an early age, however, he developed a great taste for reading and
had many times read the books in his own home, as well as those found in the
libraries of the neighbors. He ever received encouragement from his thoughtful
mother, who was reminded of a better time coming, that “all things come
to those who wait,” and that education and culture can not be kept from
those who earnestly desire them. So, when the announced opening of a select
school at Pleasantville, Penn., only two miles from his own home, took place,
young Davis, then at the age of eighteen years, felt that the opportunity so
long looked for was at hand, and , in company with his intimate friend and
neighbor, Thomas A. Morrison (now president judge of McKean and Potter
counties), early enrolled himself as a pupil of Hon. M. C. Beebe. What Dr.
Arnold was to the boys at Rugby Mr. Beebe was to the youth of Pleasantville
and vicinity – not only an apt instructor, but also truest of friends and
wisest of counselors. For the next five years the young student spent several
months of each year in attendance at the academy, working on the farm and
teaching during the balance of the time, to earn the means to pay for clothes,
books, tuition, etc. During all this time he was an active politician, taking
great interest in the Democratic party. In 1861, for his active work and
ability shown, he was nominated in the county convention of Venango county,
for assembly, for the district of Venango and Mercer counties. Afterward his
nomination was ratified by the Democratic convention of Mercer. His opponent
was his old preceptor, M. C. Beebe, of Pleasantville, Penn., but the tidal
wave of Republicanism, caused by the fall of Fort Sumter, having swept over
Pennsylvania, among others, his opponent was elected. In 1864 Mr. Davis moved
to the borough of Tionesta (then in Venango county, now in Forest), and became
engaged in the mercantile and real estate businesses with Hon. John A. Dale,
continuing in the same until he was elected sheriff of Forest county, in 1869,
in which capacity he served three years. During the year 1868 or 1870 he
entered his name as a student at law, and has been in the active practice of
that profession since 1874. In 1879 he was nominated by his party (Republican)
for the legislature, and after an exciting canvas (the county being close) was
elected. He was give the compliment of an unanimous nomination for a second
term in 1882, and was elected by increased majority. He was also a member of
the famous extra session of the legislature, in the summer and fall of 1883,
called by Gov. Pattison, the Democratic governor, for the purpose of
reapportioning the State into congressional districts. While a member of the
legislature he served on many important committees, among them being those on
judiciary general congressional apportionment, banks, townships, etc. He held
the position on the congressional apportionment during the three sessions, and
was an active and influential member, being chosen by the Republican caucus
during the extra session as chairman of an important political committee to
look after the political legislation of his compeers. In 1886 he organized the
Tionesta Gas Company, and is secretary and manager of the same. He held the
office of justice of the peace for Tionesta borough for four years, was
appointed United States inspector, in 1862, for the counties of Venango,
Crawford and Warren, holding the position until the office was abolished. He
has held the various positions of borough councilman, school director (nine
years), and is now president of the school board. Mr. Davis married, December
2, 1860, Mary Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Hon. John A. Dale, and has now
living six children: Maud Anna, James Dale, Charles Herbert Benjamin Freeman
and Gilbert G. and Donald C. (twins). Mr. Davis is a man earnest in his
convictions, just in his dealings conscientious in his discharge of public and
private duties, pronounced in his adherence to the principles of his political
party. He is courteous gentlemen, a true friend, a safe counselor, and an
honorable man.Source: Page(s) 9287-930, Chapter 15 Biographical Sketches – Tionesta Township
and Borough of Tionesta
Hickory and Harmony Townships
History of Counties of McKean, Elk and Forest, Pennsylvania.
Chicago, J.H. Beers & Co., 1890.
Transcribed November 2005 by Nathan Zipfel for the Forest County Genealogy
Project
Published 2005 by the Forest County Pennsylvania Genealogy Project
Return to Forest County Home Page
(c) Forest County Pennsylvania Genealogy Project
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